Solutions Architect - Cisco & AI Infrastructure (Presales)

About Gruve

Gruve is an innovative software services startup dedicated to transforming enterprises to AI powerhouses. We specialize in cybersecurity, customer experience, cloud infrastructure, and advanced technologies such as Large Language Models (LLMs). Our mission is to assist our customers in their business strategies utilizing their data to make more intelligent decisions. As a well-funded early-stage startup, Gruve offers a dynamic environment with strong customer and partner networks.

About the Role

This role is focused on scaling presales execution and driving delivery excellence for Cisco-aligned services . You will work closely with US-based enterprise customers, Cisco sellers, and partners , owning solution architecture, POCs/POVs, and presales delivery oversight. This is a hands-on architecture role , ideal for professionals coming from Cisco partners, system integrators, MSPs, or enterprise IT services environments , with strong depth in data center and AI infrastructure.

Key Responsibilities

Presales & Solution Architecture

• Lead presales solution architecture for Cisco-aligned services and offerings
• Partner closely with Cisco sales teams, partners, and enterprise customers
• Own end-to-end solution design, including requirement gathering, architecture definition, and technical validation
• Develop high-level and low-level designs aligned to customer business and technical needs

Technology Focus Areas

• Design and architect solutions across the following domains:

Cisco Data Center Technologies (Required)

• Cisco UCS, Nexus switching, ACI, VXLAN
• AI and high-performance data center topologies (Converged-rail, Rail-optimized, Dragonfly, etc.)
• Virtualized and hybrid data center environments

AI Infrastructure (Required)

• Cisco + NVIDIA-based AI infrastructure
• Secure AI Factory concepts
• GPU-based compute and high-performance networking for AI workloads

Hybrid Cloud & Infrastructure (Nice to Have)

• On-premises and public cloud integration (AWS, Azure, GCP - basic to intermediate level)
• Kubernetes setup and configuration

POCs, POVs & Commercial Support

• Lead and support Proof of Concepts (POCs) and Proof of Value (POVs) for enterprise customers
• Assist with effort estimation, BOM creation, pricing inputs, and SOW preparation
• Provide technical inputs for proposals, RFP responses, and customer presentations

Delivery & Practice Contribution

• Partner with delivery engineers to ensure smooth handover and high-quality execution
• Spend approximately 25% of time contributing to practice build activities, including:
• Solution SKUs and reference architectures
• Playbooks, best practices, and technical documentation
• Inputs to pricing models and standardized offerings

Basic Qualifications

• 8-14 years of experience in Solution Architecture, Presales, or Technical Consulting
• Strong hands-on experience with Cisco Data Center technologies
• Experience supporting US enterprise customers or global clients
• Background with Cisco partners, system integrators, MSPs, or IT services organizations is highly preferred

Technical Skills

• Strong understanding of:
  
  • Cisco UCS, Nexus, ACI, VXLAN, EVPN, BGP, OSPF
  • Data center networking and compute architectures
  • AI infrastructure fundamentals
  • Hybrid cloud integration models
• Exposure to Cisco + NVIDIA AI infrastructure , GPU workloads, and AI clusters is a strong plus
• Solid understanding of enterprise security concepts
• Ability to translate business requirements into scalable, production-ready architectures

Soft Skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Comfortable presenting solutions to customers and senior stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving, collaboration, and ownership mindset
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision

Preferred Qualifications

• Cisco CCIE - Preferred
• Cisco CCNP - Mandatory or strongly preferred
• NVIDIA, Cloud (AWS/Azure), or Security certifications - Nice to have

Salary Range

$180,000 - $200,000 + Benefits


This is a full-time opportunity with Gruve, offering flexibility to work from either the Dallas office or the Redwood City office.

Why Gruve

At Gruve, we foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive and contribute their best work. If you're passionate about technology and eager to make an impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Gruve is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and thank all who apply; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.